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Original poster

Any top tips for needlephobic DH at flu clinic tomorrow?

56 replies

FreezerBird · 16/11/2020 21:55

DH is not great with needles, to put it mildly.

He's not had the flu vaccination before but has been recommended to have it this year (living with a vulnerable person).

Part of the concern is that we've realised today that flu jabs are being given in a gazebo in the doctors' car park - it looks like you go in one side, roll up your sleeve, get done, walk out the other side as the next person goes in. Appointments are three minutes long.

So he's concerned about what happens if he feels faint - presumably there's no sitting down at any point. He obviously doesn't want to be embarrassed but even more so doesn't want to cause chaos in what is presumably a fairly fast moving clinic.

I think the conveyor belt nature of it might work in his favour as he won't have time to think about it much.

If anyone has some top tips for him to not end up flat on the ground in the car park we'd love to hear them.

OP posts:
autumnboys · 16/11/2020 21:57

I know it’s really obvious, but don’t look. I think some people feel they’ll be more prepared, but I think it’s best not to know. Hope it goes well for him.

nzborn · 16/11/2020 21:59

Get him to fiddle IE waggle hands,feet if possible this confuses the body with so much going on here might not notice the needle going in

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 16/11/2020 22:00

DS is the same, goes really funny with needles and when he had his jabs for holiday at 14 the receptionist thought he was being murdered from his screams that rang throughout the building. He has improved with age though... he had his flu jab a few weeks ago (he's asthmatic and a carer for his great gran) and chatted to the nurse about football while she did it to take his mind off it. He said he didn't actually realise she had done it, he was so busy talking, and didn't look at the needle.

mintich · 16/11/2020 22:00

It's a fairly small needle compared to a blood test etc. Very quick too! I'm not amazing with needles but the flu vaccination has been the easiest I've had.

BooFuckingHoo2 · 16/11/2020 22:02

Your poor DH! I’m really bad with needles and I find it really helps to talk aimlessly and tap my foot, wriggle my hands, basically as much as possible to distract myself! Also shut my eyes which helps.

Mangofandangoo · 16/11/2020 22:03

Ask if they will come and administer it in your car - they did this for my grandma who is in her 90s and was terrified of going into the surgery as she thought she would catch covid

Original poster
FreezerBird · 16/11/2020 22:04

This is great - it's all stuff I've been saying to him too!

Thanks all.

Such a strange thing this phobia. He can be great if someone injures themselves and it's on 'his watch' - the adrenalin gets going and he just deals with it. He had to drive DD and I to hospital with both of us covered in blood once. However I've seen him pass out on cutting himself when a glass broke, and had to leave the room as I dressed a cut on DSs finger.

OP posts:
toomuchfaster · 16/11/2020 22:05

Tell them before he starts, there should be chairs about even if not obvious. He must be honest and tell them if he feels wobbly after, sooner the better. Easier to have someone sit themselves down and get up when feeling better, than deal with a fainter. And yes, don't look at it being done! Only the person giving the injection needs to see the needle.

DownWhichOfLate · 16/11/2020 22:05

Are you going with him? Take a folding chair?

ShowMeYourCat · 16/11/2020 22:08

Your poor DH, it can cause such worry. I’m ok if I look away and someone holds my hand, and I can bury my face into the arm of the person holding my hand! A lovely stranger from my work kindly came and supported me when DH unexpectedly couldn’t come and sit with me while I had my flu jab at work. I was very anxious as I’d fainted the year before seconds after the jab. At other times when I’ve had needles involved I try do times tables just to distract myself

Original poster
FreezerBird · 16/11/2020 22:09

We're all going (me, DH, DD and DS), but there is a gap between mine and the kids' appointments and his of about 10 minutes as he had to check his work rota before booking in (it all got a bit complicated for various reasons).

So my plan is to deposit the kids back in the car and then go with him; the downside is that his extra wait gives him more time to think about it. Maybe I should try and swap my slot for his.

OP posts:
doctorhamster · 16/11/2020 22:11

I would get him to call the surgery in advance of his appointment I think. That way they can be prepared if he does react badly. I bet it happens a lot!

Tootsietoot · 16/11/2020 22:15

I am needle phobic. Bring a camping chair get it out. Distract as much as possible. Tell the nurse he is a bit of a wuss . Make it a joke. Whilst it is hapoening get him to waggle toes. Sit down. Distract and feed some chocolate.

moonlight1705 · 16/11/2020 22:15

I had to get hypnotherapy for my needle phobia. The wiggling fingers is a good one along with breathing deeply and calmly.

I was given a phrase to say over and over which is 'this is uncomfortable but safe' as our bodies faint due to the flight or fight reaction. Any other situation we would run away or punch the nurse doing it but that is somewhat socially unacceptable so our bodies make us shut down as a freeze reaction.

The phrase and breathing reminds your subconscious that you do not need to do anything.

So look away, wiggle fingers and concentrate on breathing.

Tootsietoot · 16/11/2020 22:16

Oh and if he is being a complete wuss tell him at worst he will faint and to stop being a big bang (works for me and I've fainted several times previously!)

indemMUND · 16/11/2020 22:18

Look away and dig nails into the other lower arm hard just as it's being done. It's a distraction that works for me.

Ontheboardwalk · 16/11/2020 22:19

I’m not a fan of needles. I have to compose myself and shut my eyes

Flu jab though honestly doesn’t seem like a needle to me is a pin prick. You are in and out again in about a minute

I was 10 minutes early for mine (Covid traffic) but they let me go in. They might let you all go in around the same time rather than the ever increasing anxiety hanging around

Elouera · 16/11/2020 22:21

I give flu vaccines and its far better to know beforehand that someone might feel faint or has a phobia. I dont give them in a car park, but if there is an option to sit, or ideally lie down, he should ask and use that option. Or, if he can sit and put his head between his legs, or raised up on something.

Too late now, but you can buy a local anaesthetic cream from larger pharmacies or online called emla cream. It numbs the skin and is used for cannulating children, tattoos and on needle phobic patients. A pea sized blob is put into the site 1hr prior to needle. Usually a clear, plastic dressing is put over the top, and the cream, slowly absorbs. Let us know how he gets on.

Hazelnutlatteplease · 16/11/2020 22:22

Music in headphones. Eye mask on when you reach position. Flask of sugery tea of coffee or favourite treat for after.

Do not wiggle hands as you'll end up moving you arms which could make it more uncomfortable Confused.

The clinics in our surgery you barely have time to finish your name before youre done and back out the door. About 3 mins a pop if that.

parietal · 16/11/2020 22:24

i'm needle phobic. distraction is definitely your friend. how about a podcast on headphones that he can keep listening too the whole time - in the car and in the queue etc.

Bargebill19 · 16/11/2020 22:25

My dh is needle phobic. Once he’s answered the normal questions, he mutters a nursery rhyme or something along the lines of “Peter piper picked a peck of pickled peppers” etc. He find that, plus not looking, refocuses his mind away from the needle. Hope all goes well.

Original poster
FreezerBird · 16/11/2020 22:25

@Elouera

I give flu vaccines and its far better to know beforehand that someone might feel faint or has a phobia. I dont give them in a car park, but if there is an option to sit, or ideally lie down, he should ask and use that option. Or, if he can sit and put his head between his legs, or raised up on something.

Too late now, but you can buy a local anaesthetic cream from larger pharmacies or online called emla cream. It numbs the skin and is used for cannulating children, tattoos and on needle phobic patients. A pea sized blob is put into the site 1hr prior to needle. Usually a clear, plastic dressing is put over the top, and the cream, slowly absorbs. Let us know how he gets on.

Oh, thanks so much for replying - it's great to hear from someone who actually does it!

I've only come across Emla in hospitals and didn't realise you could buy it OTC. Noted for the future.

Most of my medical type shenanigans are with DD, who is Hard As Nails and laughs in the face of needles. Last time she had a GA she literally giggled herself to sleep, having insisted on holding her own mask.

This has made me blase in the extreme about such things.

OP posts:
tenlittlecygnets · 16/11/2020 22:26

The flu jab this year is being done with a much thinner needle so you can honestly barely feel it. Much nicer than in previous years!

Distract op, get him to repeat mantra. It will be over before he knows it!

Cuppaand2biscuits · 16/11/2020 22:26

I hate blood tests and when ever I've had to have one I tell the nurse that I don't like it and ask them to talk to me to distract me. They are brilliant at that and get it done with no fuss.

Spongebobsbob · 16/11/2020 22:28

I didn’t used to be great with needles. I still take a chocolate bar to eat immediately afterwards.
Look the other way and make conversation with the nurse.

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